This exchange sets the tone. Emma begins mentally cataloging these moments—a practice she learned from a self-help blog. She realizes these are not isolated incidents but a pattern.
This is a pivotal sequence. Emma’s own mother, a traditional woman who believes marriage is eternal sacrifice, sides with Liam. The title Breaking Ties now takes on a second meaning: Emma must break the tie with her mother’s outdated beliefs. breaking ties by sara abubakar summary
Rather than a loud confrontation, Emma executes a quiet, strategic exit. She withdraws half the joint savings (legal in her state), drives to Ivy’s, and hires a divorce attorney, Mr. Delgado—a fierce advocate for survivors of emotional abuse. This exchange sets the tone
For readers seeking a story that is both heart-wrenching and empowering, Breaking Ties delivers. And for those who see themselves in Emma, the novel offers a quiet, powerful message: You are not crazy. You are not alone. And you are allowed to leave. If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional abuse, resources such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline (or local equivalents) offer free, confidential support. Breaking Ties is a work of fiction, but its lessons are rooted in real struggles. This is a pivotal sequence
Emma’s story reminds us that breaking ties is not an act of destruction—it is an act of creation. By severing what harms us, we make space for what heals us.
Meanwhile, Liam senses Emma’s withdrawal and escalates his tactics. He proposes a “contract renewal”—a formal, written agreement about their marriage roles. When Emma refuses, he threatens to cut off her access to their joint bank account and calls her mother to say Emma is having a “mental breakdown.”